Automatic suction sheet-feeding machine



Oct. 25, 1927' 1. A, cARL'roN AUTOMATIC SUCTION SHEET FEEDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 24. 1926 l'lr 5.7 W INVENToR ATTORNEYS Oct. 25, 1927. l

-1,646,681 J. A. CARLTON v AUTOMATIC' SUCTJION SHEET FEEDING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 2'4. 1926 NDJ ' f INVENToR 6 @CZ/232 Y@ m .4 v

k I ATToRNEYa ..1 .M vw. @NEX Patented Oct. 25, 1927.

JAMES A. CARLTON, or sT. Louis, Missouni, assitance, BY Mnsnri intatti] earsar {ortica-.yl

ass'rsirMEivTs, To

CHARLES S. RUSSELL, F WEST MEDFORD, MASACHUSETTSJ- AUTOMATIC vsUcTIcii sHT-rnnniiier, Macniivii.

Appiication inea Septante; 24, 192s'. seriai No. 137,413.0.l

mechanism of a printing machine. The ma-V chine comprises in general a pick-up.r nozzle for liftingthe top sheet from the pileby suction and means for actuating said nozzle vertically to and from thefpile to pick up asheet and horizontally to convey the sheet to v,the desired point.

One object "of the invention is to provide a machine of this character embodying novel and improved mechanism for actuating said pick-'up nozzle which is simple, reliable and inexpensive in construction and operation.

Another object is to provide in such a machine novel and improved means for separating or loosening the uppermost sheet from the pile just prior to the picking up thereof by said pick-up nozzle so that only one ksheet at a time is lifted from the pile.

A further object is to provide novel and improved mechanism to cooperate with said pick-up nozzle for automatically maintaining the topI of the pileat substantially a uniform elevation as by raising the pile.`

Other objects are to provide amachine of the character ydescribed which can be directly driven from a printing machine, for example a multigraph machine; to vprovide in such a machine novel and improved suction or vacuum controlling means coordinated with the paper feed mechanism of such a printing machine whereby the suction or vacuum is relieved or broken to re-' lease the sheet from the pick-'up nozzle as the printing' machine mechanism grips the sheet. and to obtain other results and advantages as may be brought out by therfol! lowing description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which corresponding and like parts Vare designated throughout the several views by the same reference characters,

Figure l is a side elevation of a sheet feeding machine embodying the invention, showing the same in cooperative relation to a multigraph machine for feeding sheets of paper to the latter;

Figure 2 is an end view of the upperpor-` tion of the sheet feeding machine, some parts being eliminated for clearness in illustra@ tion Figure 3 is anenlarged top plan 'view ofy the sheet feeding inacliiney* Figure 4 is an venlarged'transverse vertical sectonalview, taken on lthe 'line "of Y co l Figure 3; i

`Figure y5 i's a detached.fragmentaryperl spective view of oneend of the carriage sec?,

tion upon which the pneumatic pickup device is mounted; A f i Figure 6j is a fragmentary perspective view ofone end of thebracket uponfwhich the suction pick-up. nozzlesrar'e mounted;

v i'e'w of a portion of the other carriage sec-` tion; A g,

Figure 's `is, a fragmentaryjpersptve view of the forward end of the machine showing in detail the pneumatic blowen' and Figure 7 -is a fragmentary perspective Figure 9 is yan enlarged transverse vertical sectional view through the vacuumy conironing alive. Y

Specifically describing the illustrated emel bodiment of the invention, the sheetV feeding iiiac'hiiie includes a frame A 'composedfofv two spaced and parallel vertical'side 'pieces l andl 2 'fiXedly connected togetherby tie? bolts 3 and' a i'cross-bara, said "side pieces having; feet 5 forv supporting'the .frame in upright position. This framefis adapted to be arranged in sidel by side' relation to a multigraph machine yB so that sheets 'of paper may be fed to the paper feedy rollers C of the'multigraph machine. The 'stacl D of the sheets of papertojb'e fed to the multgraph iiiacliii'e are' supported by a table 7 mounted in the frame A between the side pieces l thereof for vertical *movement. j n .y

At the top 'of thek frame above the top vO'f the stack Dof sheets ofpaper is horizontally movablc a carriagewlii-ch is composed of two sections E and F which have their ends sldable inl guide grooves y8 in the respecy tive side pieces land 2. The section E is sliowiil as` coinprisingtwo transverse Jbas 9 fast connected by end .piecesy 10 which; are

slidablein the respective grooyes 8, while the section F comprises tivo transverse bars ll'ivhich are connected at their ends by Tack bars 12 which are,also'slidableI 'in the respectivegroovcs 8.v The section F normally-has an abutting relation withl the Ase'ctioi'i. Eat the forwardV end ofthe frame A5 as fshotv-n in Figures 3 and t of the drawings bits'aid assassine tenui-ely asv-esile aaa ai@ move together.

yieldingly connected by springs 13 so as to The section E has mounted thereon at its ends standards 14 on which are mounted Vinwardly facing vertical. guide channels 15 in which are vertically slidable posts 16 which are connected by the' transverse bar 17. A plurality of suction pick-up nozzles 18 are securedfto the bar 17 in-any suitable manner, but said nozzles are preferably adjustable longitudinally of said bar by means of bolts 2O passing through a slot 21 in the bar. The undersides of these nozzles are formed with openings 22, and the nozzles are connected by flexible tubes 23 to a manifold suction pipe 24 mounted on the frame-A and extending transversely thereof and connected .iny any` suitable 'manner as by a pipe25 to a suitable vacuum producing apparatus.-- The posts 16 and ybar 17 thus servefas aV bracket or hanger for the suction pick-up nozzles 18. Y I Upon-the posts 16 are mounted inwardly yand'horizontally projecting rollers 26 which follow respective cams 27 secured to the other `frame ysection F, as shown in Figure 7.

ofthe drawings. These cams 27 project forwardly'fiom the section F in overlying rrelation to theisec-tion E so as to be always beneath the respective rollers 26. ith this construction, it will be observed that the suctionfpick-up nozzles 18 will be moved by 'the carriage horizontally toward and from the stack D of the sheets of paper and may move vertically to and from the top sheet of said .stackby longitudinal movement of the cams 27 beneath ythe rollers 26 which of course can take place only upon relative movement ofthe frame sections E Vand F.

v For .inovingthe carriage, I have shown a transverse shaft- 3() journaled on the frame A yandrliaving thereon pinions 31 meshing with the respective rack bars'12, said shaft having at one` end thereof another pinion 32 which meshes with another rack bar 33 horizontally reciprocable on the outside of the frame piece 1 in suitable bearings or guides 34. A lever 35 is pivotally mounted at one end 'upon-a stub shaft 36 on the outside of said ,frame pieceland the other end of said lever is pivotally connected at 37 to the rack barv l33. A link 38 has oneend connected to the lever 35 intermediate its ends and the other end connected to a crank 39on a rotating i vshaft 40 commonly found in known types lof multigraph machines, particularly those which are power driven. This shaft 40 constantly yrotates during operation of the multigraph machineas accordingly does the crank- 39. Thus, during operation of the multigraph, the lever 34. is constantlyV oscillated alternately iii-opposite directions and through the rack barA 33, pinion 132, pin- 'ions' 31 and the rack bars 12 reciprocates the carriage alternately in opposite directions.

In accordance with the invention, to cause vertical movement of the suction pick-up nozzles 18, when the two sections 'E and F of lthe carriage have moved a certain .distance together awayv from the multigraph machine, the standards 14 engage abutment lugs 41 mounted on the frame A of the inachine, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, so that movement of the carriage sect-ion E is interrupted. The carriage section F continues tokniove in the same direc-tion to the limit of its movement determined by the extent of movement of the lever 35, and during this continued movement against the inlinence of the springsl 13, the cams 27 are partially withdrawn from beneath the rollers fio tion E stationary and the cams 27 are thus i pushed forwardly beneath the rollers `26 so that the nozles 18 are vertically raised from the stack. lhen the section F labuts the section E, the two sections move together toward the multi graph machine with lthe nozzles 18 elevated above the stack. suction or partial vacuum in the nozzles18 when they contact with the top sheet in the stack D, the said sheet is picked up by the nozzles and carried therewith, The extent of inoveinent'of the nozzles and their elevation will of course correspond to the loca- Due to the i i tion of the paper feed roller C of the multigraph machine, so that at the limitl of forward movement of thenozzles they edge of the sheet is directed between the said rollers.

Ther invention also contemplates a blower for separating the uppermost sheets of the .stack to prevent more than one sheet being lifted at -a time. This blower is shown as comprising a manifold pipe l50 extending transversely of the frame at the forward edge of the stack D and rotatably journaled in the frame, said manifold having a plurality ofnozzles 51 directed toward the stack. TheV manifold is connected to a source o compressed air, for example the exhaust of the vacuum producing apparatus, so ,that

the current of airis constantly directed tovard the sheets in the stack.

In accordance with the invention, this manifold is oscillated to move the nozzles 51 upwardly as the pick-up nozzles 18 ap- 'movement of the carriage section F when y the latter approaches the limit of its movenient. The nozzles 51 are normally infludil enced downwardly by a 'tension spring 57. With this construction it'will be obvious thateach time the frame section F engages the arm 56, the nozzles 51 will be swung upwardly so that the currents of air issuing therefrom will separate the uppermost sheets of paperand facilitate the picking up of the top sheet by the pick-up nozzles 18, and'when the carriage section moves in the other direction theA nozzles 51 are moved downwardly so as to cause no disturbance of the uppermost sheets.

It is also a. feature of the invention to provide means for automatically elevating the pile to compensate forthe removal of sheets from the top thereof by the nozzles 18 so as to maintain the top of the pile at a uniform level. For this 'purpose,. I have shown a ratchet or gear 60 secured to the stub shaft 36, and a pawl 61 pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon thevlever 's() as to by vaction of gravity be normally out of engagement with said gear or ratchet. rlhe gear meshes with a pinion 62 .on a countershaft v63. jouinaled on the kcross-bar I and havinga beveled pinion 6l meshing with another beveled pinion 65 which is interiorly threaded and through which passes a threaded lrod 66 the end of which is connected at 67 with the table 7 For lforcing the pawl -61 into engagement with the gear 60, I may utilize a push lever 68 pivotally mounted yintermediate its ends as .at .69 upon the frame piece 1 with one end bearing upon the toothed end of the pawl 61 and the other end connected by a link 7 O to an arm 71` on a transverse-shaft 72 extending across the frame A above the top of the stack*v A feeler arm 7 3 is mount-y ed on the shaft 72 and by action of gravity normally rests upon the top sheet of the stack D loscillating the shaft 7 2 accordingly. vWith this construction, it will be obvious that when the top of the pile reaches a pre-` determined low level, the oscillation of the feeler arm 73 will move the push lever 68 so 'as to force the pawl 61 into engagement with the gear 60, and oscillation of the lever 35 will then cause rotation of the gear 460,pinion 62, shaft .63 andpinions 64 and 65 so that the threaded rod 66 is `moved upwardly; and when the top of the pile reaches a predetermined high level, the pawl 61 will .be released from the gear 60 and movement i ofthe table 7 will be interrupted, For lowering the table 7 to replenish the stack, the lgear 6() may be provided with a handle 74 whereby .the pinions .62, .64 and `65 Lmay be quickly and manually rotated .to Vquickly lowerv the tab-le.

It is desirable-,to vdiminish or break 'the vacuum in the no zzgle 18 after the sheet of paper carried thereby. is gripped by the feed roller C, and accordingly I may connect an air inlet valve 7.5 with the nozzles in the vacuum system through a pipe 76 .which will admit air to the system and breakv or diminish the vacuum. This valve may include a casing 77 having a seat 78 communicating with the atmosphere through a passage 7 9, and a valve head 80 carried by a valve rod 81 projecting upwardly through said passage; The valve is normallyheld in closed position by va compression spring 82. A cam 83 is mounted on the link 3 8 so that as the link moves downwardly incident that this is primarily for the purpose of illustrating'the principles ofthe invention and that the details of constructionk may be modified vand changed and the machine adapted for feeding sheetsof materialr for other purposes, without departing from the spirit or scope Vof the invention. There fore, I do not desireto be understoodas limiting myself except as required by the following claims when construed in the light ofthe prior art. y i

Having thus ldescribed the invention, what I claim is:`

1. A sheet yfeeding mechanism, comprisinga support for a stack .of sheets, a carriage horizontally movable abovevsaidstack `and comprising .two sections movable independently and' together,a' pneumatic device for lifting the topv sheet from said stack mounted to -move vertically Ion one of saidA carriage sections, and means for vertically moving said pneumatic device alternatelyin opposite-directions upon relative movement y in opposite .directions of said carriage sections, whereby the top sheet on said stack is successively lifted from said stack nand horizontally moved away therefrom. k2. A sheet feeding mechanism, comprising a support `for a stack of sheets, acarriage horizontally movable above said .stack and Comprising .two sections'movable inde# pendenti-y vand together, a pneumatic .device for lifting the topr sheet r'from said stack mounted to move vertically on .one ofsaid carriage sections, means 'formoving said carriage, means for temporarily stopping movement of thel first-mentioned' carriage K iis ico'

section with the l..0ther, ,and means on the other Acarriage section to vertically vmove said 4pneumatic device alternately in opposite directions upon relativemovement of said carriage sections inl opposite direction.

3. A sheet feeding mechanism, comprising a support for a stack of sheets, a carriage horizontally movable above said stack and comprising two sections movable independently and together, a pneumatic device for lifting the top` sheet from said stack l mounted to move vertically on one of said carriage sections, a cam andV a follower therefor, one thereof being connected to said pneumatic device andthe other to the other carriage section for moving said pneuriage horizont-ally -movable above said stack and comprising two sections movable independently andtogether, a pneumatic device for lifting'the top sheet from said stack mounted to move vertically1 on one of said `carriage sections, means for moving said carriage, means for temporarily lstopping movement of the first-mentioned cairiage section with the other, a cam and a follower therefor, one thereof being connected to said pneumatic device and the other to the other carriage section for moving said pneumaticpdevice vertically alternately in opposite directions upon relative movement in opposite directions of said vcarriage sections, whereby the top sheet on said stack is successively lifted from said stack and horizontally moved away therefrom.

5. 'A sheet feeding mechanism, comprising-a support for a stack of sheets, a carriage'horizontally movable above saidy stack and comprising two sections, means yieldably connecting said sections so that they may move together and also move relatively to each other, a pneumatic device for pick-- ing up the top sheet from said stack mounted on one ofsaid sections, -means connected to the other section for horizontallyinoving it, means for interrupting movement of the first-mentioned section with the other in one direction whereby the secoiid-mentioned Section may have limited' movement independently of the first-mentioned section in both directions, and means` for vertically moving said pneumatic device alternately in opposite directions upon relative movement in opposite directions of saidL carriage sections, whereby the top sheetl on said 'stack `is successively liftedfrom said stack 'and horizontally moved away therefrom.

Y6. A sheet feeding mechanism, comprising a support for a. stack of sheet-s, a carriage horizontally movable above said stack and comprising two'. sections, means yieldably connecting` said sections so that they may move together and also move rela- 'latter alternately in opposite directions'.Y

tively to each other, a pneumatic device for picking up the top sheet from said stack mounted on one of-said sections, means connected to the other section for horizontally moving it, means for interrupting movement of the first-mentioned section with the other in one4 direction whereby the second-mentioned section may have limited movement independently of the first-mentioned section in bothdirections, a cam and a follower therefor, one thereof being connected to said pneumatic device and the other to said second-'mentioned carriage section for moving said vpneumatic device .alternately in lopposite directions upon relative movement in opposite directions of said carriage sections, whereby the top sheet on said stack is successively lifted from nsaid stack and ,-horizontally moved away therefrom.

7. The combination with a machine for operating upon sheetsincluding a rotating shaft having a crank arm, of a sheet feeding mechanism comprising a frame, a support for a stack of sheets to be fed to said machine,a device for picking up the topsh-eet from said stack and horizontally movable from Said stack to said machine to convey said sheet to saidmachine, a lever'pivoted on said frame for oscillation in a vertical plane at right angles to the `axis of saidA shaft, a. link connected to said lever and said crank arm on said shaft whereby rotation of said shaft oscillates said lever, and an operativev connection between said lever and said sheet lifting device for moving the the latter alternately in opposite directions.

8. The combination with a machine for operating upon sheets including a rotating shaft having a crank arm, of a sheet feeding mechanism'comprising a frame, a support for a stack of sheets to be fedV to said 'machine, a 4device for picking up the` topsheet from said stack and horizontally movable from said stack to said machine to convey said sheet to said machine, a lever pivoted on said 'frame for oscillation vin a vertical lil() plane at right angles tothe aXis of said Y shaft, a link connected to said lever and liaidfcrank arm on saidshaft whereby rotation of said Lshaft oscillate-s said lever, a rack bail horizontally reciprocablev in said frame and connected to said sheet lifting device, and an operativeconiiection between said lever and said rack bar for moving the 9. The combination with a machine for operating upon sheets including a rotating shaft having a crank arm, of a sheetfeeding mechanism comprising a frame, a support for a stack of sheetsto be fed to said machine, a device for picking up the topksheet from said stack and horizontally movable from said stack to saidl machine to conv-ey said sheet to said machine, a lever pivoted 'on said frame lfor oscillation in a vertical v with the addition of a pneumatic blower for plane at rightl angles lto the axis of said shaft, a link connected to said lever and said crank arm on said shaft wherebyv rotation of said shaft oscillates said lever, a rackv bar horizontally reciprocable in said frameV and connected to said sheet lifting device, a shaft journaled on said frame, a .pinion on said shaft meshing with said rackbar, a second pinion on said shaft, a second rack bar horizontally reeiprocable on said frame and meshing with said second pinion, and

an operative connection between said second rack bar and said lever for moving the latter alternately in opposite directions. Y

10. The mechanism rset forth in claim 1 directing a current of air against the edges of the uppermost sheets in said stack to separate said stack, saidl pneumatic blower being mounted to oscillate about a horizontal axis, and means for oscillatingl said pneumatic blower upwardly and downwardly simultaneously with the movement of said sheet lifting means to or from said stack respectively.

11. The mechanism set forth in claim 1 with the addition of a pneumatic blower for directing a current of air against the edges of the uppermost sheets insaid stack to .I

separate said stack, said pneumatic blower being mounted to oscillate about a horizontal axis, and means actuated by said carriage for moving'said pneumatic blower upwardlyv Zontal axis, kand means actuated by the second-mentioned carriage section as it moves relatively to the iirst-mentioned carriage section for moving said pneumatic blower upwardly.

`4o Y lbeing mounted to oscillate about 'a hori-VV Y l 13. The combination set forth in claim 7 wher-ein said device for picking, up a sheet from said stack is a suction device, and

with the addition of a normally closed air inlet valve connected to said suction device and actuated by said link to admit air intoy said suction device for releasing said. sheet therefrom. i

p JAMES A. CARLTON. V 

